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The Daily Fix

Can I justify the luxury of instant hot water?

john ross, Web Producer

9 users recommend

Turns out that enjoying instant hot water in a drafty old house can save energy.

Drawing by Don Manners

Turns out that enjoying instant hot water in a drafty old house can save energy.

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I haven’t paid much attention to instant hot water because I’ve always thought of it as a luxury and like it or not there is a bit of me that takes pride in roughing it,  no matter what the situation. That includes waiting for hot water when the temperature in the bathroom is a chilly 5o degrees on cold spring mornings.

However, as my household tries to ratchet down the energy expenses in our big old colonial, I noticed that the water piping (that pretty much spans the history of plumbing) runs every which way but straight. If I straightened all the twists and turns in the pipe that delivers hot water from the tank to the bath room (about ten feet for the mice). I could almost reach the neighbor's house.

So I figure if it saves energy, it’s not a luxury and I'm safe.

Thumbing through a back issue, I found an article with the following sidebar by Scott Gibson I thought I'd share:

Recirculation is a holistic cure for a lethargic hot-water system. Point-of-use heaters, installed only where they are needed, are another way of dealing with the problem in specific locations. Several types of these water heaters are available, including instant hot-water dispensers, undercounter water heaters, and small tankless heaters.

• Hot-water dispensers are a handy kitchen aid, but they’re not as useful for making shower water hot. Dispensers can produce up to 100 cups of near-boiling water per hour and cost between $100 and $400.

• Undercounter water heaters hold 2 gal. to 4 gal. of water and cost as much as $500. A slightly larger model, such as a 15-gal. unit, fits in a closet and can be a good solution for an in-law apartment or other occasionally used space. As a fix for slow hot water at a frequently used shower, however, its benefits are likely to be diminished by high operating costs.

• Small, tankless water heaters are another option for a bathroom or kitchen far from the main water heater. Because tankless units heat water only when it’s needed, you don’t pay to keep stored water hot. Gas-fired models (starting around $600) are more efficient and produce more hot water than electric heaters. However, indoor installation is limited because it requires a vent and a gas line. An electric tankless water heater (starting around $500) that produces enough hot water for a shower may require a 60-amp breaker at 240 volts.

There was also a little resource box that had these links:
Grundfos Pumps and Laing Therotech Inc. for Time and temperature systems, Advanced Conservation Technology Inc. and Uponor for on-demand systems and Taco Inc. for both systems.

Read the complete article... Hot Water Now Recirculation systems eliminate a long wait at the tap and save thousands of gallons of water by Scott Gibson

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Comments (1)

demouser writes: I used a Taco pump and digital timer with a temp sensor, plus a check valve to put in a hot water recirc system during a bathroom remodel. Very simple installation and much cheaper than a tankless or undercounter water heater. I ran the insulated copper hot water line up to the second story using the chase for the furnace flue. A couple of small holes in the drywall to get around the corners to tie it into the bathroom water lines. Set the timer to our morning shower times and I figure we probably save 3000 gallons of water per year not waiting for hot water.
Posted: 6:47 pm on May 29th

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